China commends the positive initiatives taken by the Burundian Government to maintain national stability and promote internal reconciliation, and urges the parties in Burundi to actively participate in the political dialogue and resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue and consultation. China supports the mediation efforts of regional and subregional organizations, such as the African Union and the East African Community, on the question of Burundi, and the United Nations ongoing constructive role in seeking a political solution to the question.

United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions should be deployed on the basis of full consultation with the country concerned and follow the principle of the consent of the host country. That is the only way to ensure that peacekeeping operations and special political missions can deploy smoothly and implement their mandate.

On the question of sending United Nations police to Burundi, it is necessary to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Burundi and engage in full consultations with its Government in an effort to reach a Burundi-led settlement that enjoys the consent of all concerned parties. Resolution 2303 (2015) does not address the aforementioned principles. China was therefore compelled to abstain in the voting.

China urges the parties concerned to proceed with caution on the question of sending police to Burundi, to consult fully with the Burundian Government and to reach an agreement in advance of their deployment.